Missile cable cutting system

ABSTRACT

A missile cable cutting system includes a tubular housing opened at one end and allowing a missile to be loaded therein, a cable housing fixed to and installed on one surface of the tubular housing and accommodating an umbilical cable protruding from the inside of the missile, a fixing plate installed in the cable housing and allowing the umbilical cable to be inserted between the fixing plate and the cable housing, and a cable cutter installed to be adjacent to the umbilical cable and cutting one side of the umbilical cable when the missile is fired and moved in a traveling direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(a), this application claims the benefit of earlier filing date and right of priority to Korean Application No. 10-2017-0067158, filed on May 30, 2017, the contents of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a missile cable cutting system capable of cutting an umbilical cable when a missile is fired.

2. Background of the Invention

A missile is a shell that flies toward an intended target and causes a warhead to collide with the target. A missile launcher is a device that launches a missile, and the missile is loaded and kept in storage inside the launcher until it is fired (or lunched). The missile and the missile launcher are electrically connected through a cable, and the missile is fired by applying an electrical signal the missile.

When the missile is loaded inside the missile launcher, without being lunched, the missile is provided with power using the umbilical cable of the missile and transmits and receives a required signal to and from the missile launcher. When the missile is fired from the missile launcher, an electrical connection of the missile is released.

Generally, as the missile is released from the missile launcher using thrust generated by igniting a propulsion engine, a connector positioned in the missile and a connector installed in a launching tube, which are connected to each other, are separated to release the electrical connection or naturally cut the umbilical cable.

However, in the case of separating the connector, the electrical connection between the missile and the missile launcher may be released. However, as the connector is assembled, the design and manufacture of the missile and the missile launcher may be complicated or a problem may arise in a connector separating device while the missile is released from the missile launcher.

Thus, a cutting system which stably maintains electrical connection between the missile and the missile launcher before the missile is fired, while simplifying the design and manufacture of the missile and the missile launcher, is required.

In addition, a cutting system which may be able to smoothly cut off electrical connection between a missile and a missile launcher in the process of launching the missile, which may minimize an influence on a flight trajectory of the missile while the missile is being released from the missile launcher, which may not generate by-products of the missile and other residues after the missile is fired, and which may be recycled by minimizing damage to the missile launcher is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an aspect of the detailed description is to provide a structure of a missile cable cutting system capable of smoothly releasing electrical connection between a missile and a missile launcher when the missile is separated from the missile launcher.

Another aspect of the detailed description is to provide a structure of a missile cable cutting system capable of minimizing a possibility that residues of a cut umbilical cable change a flight trajectory of the missile when the missile is fired from a missile launcher.

Another aspect of the detailed description is to provide a structure of a missile launcher capable of rapidly cutting an umbilical cable at the same time when a missile moves, to thereby minimize an influence of an impact of cutting of the umbilical cable inside the missile launcher, on a flight trajectory of the missile.

Another aspect of the detailed description is to provide a structure capable of preventing damage to an umbilical cable against vibration and impact in a state in which a missile is loaded in a missile launcher.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of this specification, as embodied and broadly described herein, a missile cable cutting system includes: a tubular housing opened at one end and allowing a missile to be loaded therein; a cable housing fixed to and installed on one surface of the tubular housing and accommodating an umbilical cable protruding from the inside of the missile; a fixing plate installed in the cable housing and allowing the umbilical cable to be inserted between the fixing plate and the cable housing; and a cable cutter installed to be adjacent to the umbilical cable and cutting one side of the umbilical cable when the missile is fired and moved in a traveling direction.

According to an example related to the present invention, the cable housing may include: a first member extending in an outward direction of the tubular housing; and a second member extending from one end of the first member in the traveling direction of the missile along the tubular housing to intersect the extending direction of the first member.

According to an example related to the present invention, the umbilical cable and the fixing plate may be positioned in a mounting portion formed by the first member and the second member.

According to an example related to the present invention, a first groove portion may be formed in the cable housing such that the fixing plate is slidably inserted and drawn out.

According to an example related to the present invention, a second groove portion may be formed below the first groove portion such that the umbilical cable is positioned in the cable housing.

According to an example related to the present invention, widths of the first groove portion and the second groove portion may be different.

According to an example related to the present invention, the cable cutter may be installed in an outer recess portion of the missile to face the traveling direction of the missile.

According to an example related to the present invention, the cable cutter may be installed at one end of the fixing plate to face the cable housing.

According to an example related to the present invention, the cable cutter is detachable.

According to the present invention, the missile cable cutting system may simplify design and manufacture of a missile and a missile launcher and smoothly release electrical connection between the missile and the missile launcher when the missile is fired from the missile launcher.

Also, since the umbilical cable connecting the missile and the missile launcher is smoothly cut during a process of firing the missile, it does not cause unnecessary damage to the missile or lower a possibility of changing a flight trajectory of the missile.

In addition, when the missile is loaded to the missile launcher, the umbilical cable is tightly attached and supported by the cable housing and the fixing plate, damage to the umbilical cable during the loading process may be restricted.

Furthermore, since the umbilical cable protruding from the missile is quickly cut by the cable cutter during a process of firing the missile, influence of the cut umbilical cable on the missile inside the missile launcher may be minimized.

Further scope of applicability of the present application will become more apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a missile cable cutting system.

FIG. 2A is a view illustrating an umbilical cable protruding from a missile.

FIG. 2B is a view illustrating a shape of the umbilical cable protruding from the inside of a missile.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a missile cable cutting system.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are conceptual views illustrating a state before and after a missile is fired from a tubular housing.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual view illustrating another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a missile cable cutting system according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

In describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of known functions and components associated with the present invention unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The accompanying drawings of the present invention aim to facilitate understanding of the present invention and should not be construed as limited to the accompanying drawings. Also, the present invention is not limited to a specific disclosed form, but includes all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a missile cable cutting system 100, illustrating a state in which the missile 10 is placed inside the missile cable cutting system 100.

The missile cable cutting system 100 is a system which is equipped with the missile 10 and which cuts the umbilical cable of the missile 10 when the missile 10 is fired upon receiving an electrical signal from the missile launcher.

The missile cable cutting system 100 includes a tubular housing 110, a cable housing 120, a fixing plate 130, and a cable cutter 140. The missile 10 is loaded inside the tubular housing 110 and, as the missile 10 is fired, electrical connection between the missile cable cutting system 100 and the missile 10 is released.

The missile 10 and the missile launcher are connected through a missile cable to exchange electrical signals. Since the cable has a shape of outwardly protruding from one side of the missile 10, the cable is called the umbilical cable 20.

they are connected to each other through a missile cable so as to send and receive electrical signals. The cable is called an umbilical cable 20 because it has a shape protruding outward from one side of the missile 10.

The umbilical cable 20 protruding from the missile 10 must be stably stored inside the missile cable cutting system 100, and when the missile 10 is fired, the umbilical cable 20 must be rapidly disconnected by the missile cable cutting system 100.

The umbilical cable 20 protruding from the missile 10 may be stably stored between the cable housing 120 and the fixing plate 130 before the missile 10 is fired, and when the missile 10 is fired, the umbilical cable 20 may be quickly cut by the cable cutter 140 installed on one side of the missile 10 so as not to affect a trajectory of the missile 10.

FIG. 2A is a view illustrating the umbilical cable 20 protruding from the missile 10, and FIG. 2B is a view illustrating the shape of the umbilical cable 20 protruding from the inside of the missile 10.

The missile and the missile launcher are connected by a missile cable, and the missile cable is called the umbilical cable 20 as described above. The umbilical cable may protrude from the inside of the missile 10 and may be connected to the missile launcher. The umbilical cable 20 is configured to protrude to the outside of the missile 10 and extends toward the front of the missile according to a structure of the missile launcher.

The umbilical cable 20 is a flexible PCB type cable which is thin and flexible and suitable for wiring in a narrow space. However, since the umbilical cable 20 does not have an insulating sheath such as rubber like a general cable, the umbilical cable 20 may be advantageously cut using the cable cutter 140 but is vulnerable to damage by an external impact. Thus, a structure capable of preventing damage to the umbilical cable 20 in the process of loading the missile 10 to the missile launcher.

An outer recess 12 is formed on one side of the missile 10 and positioned such that the umbilical cable 20 connected to a circuit board provided inside the missile 10 may protrude outwards. The cable cutter 140 is positioned on one side of the outer recess 12 and faces the umbilical cable 20 to cut the umbilical cable 20 when the missile 10 is fired and moved.

In the missile cable cutting system 100, since the umbilical cable 20 protruding to the outside of the missile 10 is positioned between the cable housing 120 and the fixing plate 130, the umbilical cable 20 may be supported and protected.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the missile cable cutting system 100, and components of the missile cable cutting system 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

The missile cable cutting system 100 includes the tubular housing 110, the cable housing 120, the fixing plate 130, and the cable cutter 140. The cable housing 120 is coupled to the tubular housing 110 and supports and protects the umbilical cable 20 through the fixing plate 130.

The tubular housing 110, which allows the missile to be loaded therein and serves to protect the missile against an external environment, has a cylindrical shape and is open at one end. The missile 10 is loaded inside the housing and the missile 10 may be inserted into and drawn out from the opened side. The tubular housing 110 may be formed of a metal material.

The cable housing 120 is fixed to one surface of the tubular housing 110 and is installed in the extending direction of the tubular housing 110. A groove having a predetermined shape may be provided on an upper surface of the cable housing 120 to accommodate the umbilical cable 20 protruding from the inside of the missile 10.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the cable housing 120 may include a first member 121 and a second member 122.

The first member 121 is configured to extend outwardly from the tubular housing 110 and the second member 122 is configured to extend from one end of the first member 121 in a direction in which the missile 10 moves along the tubular housing 110, so as to be perpendicular to the extending direction of the first member 121.

The first member 121 and the second member 122 may be formed of different materials and coupled, or may be integrally formed of one material.

Since the first member 121 and the second member 122 extend in the directions perpendicular to each other, a mounting portion may be formed. The umbilical cable 20 and the fixing plate 130 may be positioned in the mounting portion.

Also, as illustrated in FIG. 3, mounting portions 123 and 124 formed in the cable housing 120 include a first groove portion 123 and a second groove portion 124. The first groove portion 123 and the second groove portion 124 may have different widths.

The first groove portion 123 is configured such that the fixing plate 130 is slidably inserted and drawn out. The fixing plate 130 may be inserted and supported by the first groove portion 123. The second groove portion 124 is positioned below the first groove portion 123 and configured to allow the umbilical cable 20 to be positioned therein. The umbilical cable 20 may be inserted and fixed in the second groove 124.

The missile 10 and the missile launcher are connected to each other through a cable so as to be electrically connected to each other. The cable playing such a role is called an umbilical cable. The umbilical cable 20 serves to transmit information about a target to a power source or the missile 10 before the missile 10 is fired, and serves to transmit information about a state of the missile 10.

The fixing plate 130 extends in one direction and may be formed as a thin plate. Since the fixing plate 130 serves to support and protect the umbilical cable 20, the fixing plate 130 may have a shape in which the umbilical cable 20 extends.

The fixing plate 130 is installed in the cable housing 120 and serves to support and protect the umbilical cable 20 to be inserted between the fixing plate 130 and the cable housing 120.

The cable cutter 140 is installed adjacent to the umbilical cable 20 and may cut one side of the umbilical cable 20 when the missile 10 is fired and moved in the traveling direction. The cable cutter 140 may have a sharp blade and may cut the umbilical cable 20 by a force generated when the missile 10 moves upon receiving thrust.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are views illustrating a state before and after the missile 10 is fired from the tubular housing 110.

As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the missile 10 is loaded inside the tubular housing 110, and a circuit board installed inside the missile 10 is connected to the missile launcher through the umbilical cable 20.

On one surface of the tubular housing 110, the cable housing 120 is installed in a direction in which the tubular housing 110 extends. The cable housing 120 serves to accommodate and support the umbilical cable 20 before the missile 10 is fired, and the umbilical cable 20 connected to the internal circuit board 11 of the missile 10 may be inserted by the fixing plate 130 so as to be supported and protected.

The cable cutter 140 is installed on the outer recess 12 of the missile 10 and faces the traveling direction of the missile 10. The cable cutter 140 has a front portion having a sharp edge and is installed in the outer recess 12 of the missile 10 such that the traveling direction of the missile 10 faces the front portion. The cable cutter 140 may be formed of a sharp metal edge and may be detachable.

When the missile 10 is fired and moved in the traveling direction, the umbilical cable 20 accommodated in the cable housing 120 and supported by the fixing plate 130 may be naturally cut by the cable cutter 140 installed in the outer recess 12 and electrical connection between the missile 10 and the missile launcher is disconnected, as illustrated in FIG. 4B.

The umbilical cable 20 is cut by the cable cutter located on the missile and, since the cut umbilical cable 20 is located in the cable housing 120, it does not affect a flight trajectory of the missile 10.

Since the umbilical cable 20 is cut according to movement of the missile 10, preferably, a width of the umbilical cable 20 is smaller than the front portion of the cable cutter 140.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating another embodiment of the present invention.

The missile cable cutting system 200 is a system for cutting an umbilical cable electrically connecting the missile 10 and the missile launcher and includes a tubular housing 210, a cable housing 220, a fixing plate 230, and a cable cutter 240. These components are the same as those described above.

The missile cable cutting system 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention includes the cable cutter 240 which faces the cable housing 220 and is installed at one end of the fixing plate 230.

The umbilical cable 20 is located at a mounting portion formed in the cable housing 220, and, specifically, is inserted into a second groove portion (See 124 of FIG. 3). Since the fixing plate 230 is inserted into and supported by a first groove portion (See 123 of FIG. 3), when the missile 10 is installed in the tubular housing 210 before being fired, the umbilical cable 20 extending from the missile 10 may be fixed by the cable housing 220 and the fixing plate 230 (See FIG. 3). Accordingly, although the missile launcher is moved with the missile 10 loaded therein, movement of the umbilical cable 20 is restricted, preventing damage to the umbilical cable 20.

Here, the cable cutter 240 may be installed at one end of the fixing plate 230, and a sharp front portion of the cable cutter 240 is positioned to face the cable housing 220, and accordingly, when the missile 10 is fired and moves in the traveling direction, one end of the umbilical cable 20 protruding from the missile 10 may be cut by the protruding front portion of the cable cutter 240. The cut umbilical cable 20 may protrude by a predetermined length from the outer recess 12 of the missile 10 but it does not move inside the tubular housing 210 and does not affect a flight trajectory of the missile 10. Accordingly, the missile may be smoothly released from electrical connection with the missile launcher. However, since the umbilical cable 20 is cut according to movement of the missile 10, a width of the umbilical cable 20 is preferably smaller than the front portion of the cable cutter 240.

The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be considered as limiting the present disclosure. The present teachings may be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. This description is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The features, structures, methods, and other characteristics of the exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined in various ways to obtain additional and/or alternative exemplary embodiments.

As the present features may be embodied in several forms without departing from the characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be considered broadly within its scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalents of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A missile cable cutting system comprising: a tubular housing opened at one end and allowing a missile to be loaded therein; a cable housing fixed to and installed on one surface of the tubular housing and accommodating an umbilical cable protruding from the inside of the missile; a fixing plate installed in the cable housing and allowing the umbilical cable to be inserted between the fixing plate and the cable housing; and a cable cutter installed to be adjacent to the umbilical cable and cutting one side of the umbilical cable when the missile is fired and moved in a traveling direction.
 2. The missile cable cutting system of claim 1, wherein the cable housing includes: a first member extending in an outward direction of the tubular housing; and a second member extending from one end of the first member in the traveling direction of the missile along the tubular housing to intersect the extending direction of the first member.
 3. The missile cable cutting system of claim 2, wherein the umbilical cable and the fixing plate are positioned in a mounting portion formed by the first member and the second member.
 4. The missile cable cutting system of claim 1, wherein a first groove portion is formed in the cable housing such that the fixing plate is slidably inserted and drawn out.
 5. The missile cable cutting system of claim 4, wherein a second groove portion is formed below the first groove portion such that the umbilical cable is positioned in the cable housing.
 6. The missile cable cutting system of claim 5, wherein widths of the first groove portion and the second groove portion are different.
 7. The missile cable cutting system of claim 1, wherein the cable cutter is installed in an outer recess portion of the missile to face the traveling direction of the missile.
 8. The missile cable cutting system of claim 1, wherein the cable cutter is installed at one end of the fixing plate to face the cable housing.
 9. The missile cable cutting system of claim 1, wherein the cable cutter is detachable.
 10. The missile cable cutting system of claim 6, wherein the width of the first groove portion is larger than the width of the second groove portion such that the first groove portion and the second groove portion are formed stepwise. 